Concrete Repair & Resurfacing
Just like anything else aging over time, any driveway, patio or sidewalk is most likely going to reach a point of needing repair.
You may not need to replace it, but how do you know for sure? That's where we come in. We can let you know if a repair is appropriate and how much. Let us help save you the cost of completely replacing your concrete. Call us today!
Concrete may be durable and versatile but it’s not immune to damage over time.
It takes years (or a lot of force) to crack concrete. Tree roots, ice, and normal wear and tear can damage sidewalks, driveways, patios, or flooring over time. They can be unsightly, and if left unattended, hazardous. They can cause trips, accidents, and property damage.
There are also instances when the damage is caused by poor build or faulty construction. This is more urgent and would need immediate attention.
Good thing concrete repair is possible. And depending on the severity of the damage, some minor repairs can even be done by you.
Simple DIY Concrete Repairs
Concrete is composed of several key ingredients: cement, water, and aggregate (or filler). These fillers can be sand and stone, depending on how much concrete you’ll be using.
If you have a small home project, you can mix the cement yourself thanks to the help of prepared concrete mixes available at box stores. Pre-mixed cement means it already contains the aggregate and would only need water.
Examples where you can do these simple quick fixes are driveway potholes, sidewalk or path walk edges, concrete fence or wall chips and spalls, or any other concrete surface that’s uneven or cracked.
To do minor repairs on a concrete surface, you will need a bag of cement. Be sure to explain to the attendant at the hardware store what you will be using it for because there are different kinds. There’s water-resistant, quick-setting, high-strength, and even fiber-reinforced. You can even get a small bag of pre-mixed cement that’s already attached to a liquid pouch. All you need to do is mix, shake, pour, and level with a masonry trowel. Choose the one that fits your project.
You will also need a bucket or concrete mixing tray that’s large enough to contain the amount of concrete you will need. You will need a trowel or a spade if you have a bigger volume of concrete to mix.
To protect yourself, always wear work gloves and safety goggles. If you have a respiratory allergy, use a dust mask to avoid inhaling the cement powder.
Procedure:
- Rid the hole or crack of loose rocks, dirt, grease, dust, or any loose material. You can use a trowel, brush, or broom. You may flush it out with water but make sure there is no standing water left after cleaning.
- Prepare the cement mixture by adding some water to the cement mix. Don’t add too much as it will drown the cement and will cause it to fail. If you’re using a patching compound, make sure to follow the instructions on the back of the bag for the proper proportion.
You will want a peanut butter or thick oatmeal consistency that’s cool to the touch. If the weather is hot, you have to work quickly as cement hardens faster in summery temperatures. - When the cement is properly mixed, trowel it to the area that needs patching. Tap to make sure that there are no air bubbles underneath.
- Smoothen out the surface and let dry. You can walk or drive over the repaired area after a full day.
Your repair job should last you several years if done right.
On the other hand, some projects may not be as small and would require help. If the damage is big or there’s internal damage you didn’t see, it’s time for the professionals to come in and perform concrete repairs.
Get Your Free Concrete Repair & Resurfacing Quote Now!
There are many possible causes of concrete damage.
In Rochester Hills and surrounding areas, one of the main reasons for chipped or cracked concrete is the weather. Rain and ice cause a freeze-thaw cycle that weakens the concrete. This happens when already wet concrete is exposed to rapidly dropping temperatures, causing expansion and consequently, cracks.
Other causes for concrete damage are sloppy or improper construction, erosion, abuse or heavy usage, or just simply aging.
There are many factors to consider when inspecting a concrete repair job. A professional will always ask the questions:
- What is the type of damage?
- What could’ve caused the damage?
- What are the best methods to repair them and what are the materials to use?
- Will the method of concrete repair selected affect other parts of the structure?
All of this information should never be withheld from the customer. It helps him or her understand risks, costs, timelines, crew size, and what they entail.
For example, if the type of damage is massive, it might require the building’s occupants to vacate the premises temporarily while the repairs are being done. Some jobs can be done by 2 or 3 people, while others require a whole team of 8 or more people. Sidewalk edge repairs can be done in a day, while major structural damage may take a little less than a week.
Other factors, of course, would be how long the concrete repairs will take and if a permit needs to be pulled.
Knowing these facts is also how the client can make a good decision on which concrete repair method to apply. While price is, of course, a major consideration, the property owner will need to understand how each method will affect him in the long run. Upfront pricing may be high, but durability will make his investment worth it as more frequent repairs will cost more money and hassle. Businesses may suffer from potential downtime, too.
Concrete is not just for subbases and foundations. There’s a large area of concrete that’s exposed, adding to the aesthetic value of a whole structure. And when these exposed areas are damaged, it helps to know if you need to break up the whole thing and reapply the concrete or just apply a new finish.
The latter is called resurfacing or refinishing. It saves you time and money as you do not need new concrete repoured. It instead uses a thin concrete overlay bonded over the existing concrete.
Resurfacing provides a new finish to old concrete, which means you have different decorative choices. You can opt to restore the original look of the surface, apply a non-slip coating, or enhance it with color and decorative treatments such as stamped overlays.
This also means that resurfacing is not just for repairs, but for cosmetic purposes, too. If you think your patio, pool deck, interior floor, or driveway looks outdated and sad, you might want to update with more exciting designs. Concrete resurfacing might be the solution you’re looking for.
Many of our clients who have had resurfacing done on their property did so for their garage floors and showrooms. This is a damage-prone area as it suffers a lot of foot traffic as well as heavy loads. It’s also the perfect place to do a decorated concrete overlay and apply a durable coating that’s non-slip, winter-proof, waterproof, and crack-resistant.
This coating can make your surfaces last up to 5 times longer. It can also withstand more pressure washes and tire traffic. Since moisture is one of concrete’s worst enemies, sealants are important to block it off. We usually recommend sealing off concrete to our clients as an additional service.
Our skilled professionals will assess your damaged concrete if it qualifies for resurfacing.
With concrete resurfacing, nobody will even suspect that you had a damaged or unattractive concrete surface, to begin with.
Rochester Hills Concrete offers resurfacing, sealing, and stamped concrete repair near you. Call on us and we’ll be there.
Looking for a good company that provides residential or driveway repair near you? We are in the vicinity. We do it all from minor to structural to aesthetic repairs.
With Rochester Hills Concrete, we don’t just assess properly. We apply the repair and cure the repair the right way so you won’t have any more problems for the foreseeable future. We will go the extra mile and inspect other parts of your building to see if other areas need urgent repairs, too.
We believe catching the damage early on will prevent bigger problems, as you will have avoided accidents and saved money.
Our clients have called on us to repair cracks, broken edges, torn sidewalks, damaged driveways, failed retaining walls, uneven or collapsed floors, water-damaged basements, broken outdoor steps and wheelchair ramps, foundation cracks, and such. And we are glad to say that we have flattering reviews for all the work we did as well as the pricing and customer service we provided.
We also repair stamped concrete, roads, pre-cast, slabs, pavers, porches, countertops, pool decks, patios, fire pits, and much, much more.
We will also assist you if you need to make insurance claims on qualified concrete repairs like for foundation cracks or slab leaks.
Call us today and schedule a no-obligation site inspection and estimate.
Talk To A Human
You're not going to hit a ridiculously long phone menu when you call us. Your email isn't going to the inbox abyss, never to be seen or heard from again. With Rochester Hills Concrete, we provide the exceptional service we'd want to experience ourselves!
Rochester Hills Concrete
(248) 609-1630
